Thursday, October 30, 2008

Penang Trip Oct '08 (Part I)

Penang has been very good to us. Before our trip home, it was raining every day. But while we're there, it didn't rain at all. So we're able to bring the kids to some places as planned. Although the weather is very hot in the day time, it's very cooling at night. The weather's like that on an island. Well, better hot and dry than raining non-stop as it's inconvenient to go out with kids.

Saturday
Went to Botanical Gardens in the evening (without PaPa, since we have enough hands to look after the kids). The last time I went there was 7 years ago and the kids have never been there. So it was one of the places that I've planned to bring them this trip.

When we reached there, the amount of monkeys were lesser compared to other days (according to my brother). Then I saw something very disturbing. Although there was a sign that says not to feed the monkeys and not to bring food into the garden, some people still ate ice-cream or junk food. So when the monkeys saw the food, they went near these people, eyeing on the food. As they were afraid the monkeys will snatch from their hands, they just threw the food on the floor. And the monkeys quickly grabbed and ate them. I think this is really bad for them. Some people purposely provoke the monkeys by teasing them with food or scaring them.

~ monkeys eating human food near the rubbish bin ~

The kids (especially CE) were very excited to see the monkeys. Finally met their own same species, I guess. hahaha We had to carry didi coz he kept wanting to go so near to the monkeys. And these are wild monkeys. They can get very fierce.

~ didn't manage to take a picture with real monkeys in the background ~

We didn't walk the whole round, but went to an even grass area so the kids can play badminton. While XY was playing with WQ (my nephew), CE wanted the racquet too. But since there's only 2, SIL and I distracted him by bringing him to the waterfall. Boy, that was a big mistake. He wanted to go in so SIL stood at the shallow area and carried him in. But he refused to stand on the sandy area or in the shallow water. And he didn't want to come out either. Really don't know what he wanted. I took out my camera but didn't manage to snap any pictures coz he was making such a big fuss.

Then XY and WQ also joined in. XY got her pants all wet. We only allowed the kids to play in the water for a very short while, as we didn't bring anything for them to change. CE refused to get out and I had to forcefully carry him away. He was screaming and crying, kept looking at the waterfall, saying "There... water".

We didn't stay long as we've to go home and prepare to go out for dinner. Remember I said we had a very expensive but not-worth-it-at-all dinner? The place we went to was Bali Hai at Gurney Drive. We didn't really know what to order. Went to look at the live seafood, the guy recommended the spider crab which he said tastes very good if fried with celery. After weighing the crab, it cost RM700+. Woah! I don't think it's worth eating a crab that's so expensive. Moreover, we won't be able to differentiate the taste of an expensive species from the normal ones. So we ordered lobster, meat crab, steamed fish, sea cucumber, vegetables and noodles.


For 7 adults and 3 children, the bill came up to RM1.2K. Hubby said the food is not nice (for that price). I have no comments as I don't have a very sharp tastebud but I have to say 1 of the dishes was really bad. The lobster salad! This dish contributed half the bill but we wouldn't mind spending the money if it was good. Unfortunately, the meat was very rough, probably coz it was very huge. We find the merchant not being very honest as they simply prepared a huge serving (of lobster) for us. Probably because we didn't order any exotic (and very expensive) seafood so that's the only dish they can 'cut our throat'. Anyway, these are my personal opinion. Maybe we didn't order the right food. But we're definitely not going back to that restaurant again. :p

When we're almost done with dinner, I spotted a cute little boy. He was facing us while his mom was carrying him. Instantly I recognised him... baby Ryan! I walked over to say "Hi" to them. I'm sure Doreen was a bit shocked to see a stranger calling her name. What a small world, eh? It was a pleasure meeting you, Doreen. Hope I didn't give you a scare. Or do you get this kind of 'encounters' very often? :D

Coming up next, our Sunday outing. Stay tuned ya!

18 comments:

Health Freak Mommy said...

Oooo, the lobster looks good!

LittleLamb said...

wahhhhhh such an expensive meal...
*pengsan*

Irene said...

OMGGGGGGGGGGGG! RM1.2k! wahpiang eh! Rachel, i pengsan with you together ok... lets faint now!

Cheffie-Mom said...

The food looks yummy! Especially the sweet sour crab! (:

Something About Us said...

wow! it's such a small world! so coincident that you meet little chubby ryan and his mummy :)

- Ling

Mummy Gwen said...

Wow!! What an expensive meal!! I think the food looks yummy though. :) Haha..same here..Gwen also always give me headache whenever she sees water.

Anonymous said...

very very exp!! ouch!

andrewjune said...

ummm, i guessed it was at bali hai...ummm, my instincts was right afterall...

wow...we went there before but the bill was never so expensive! prob we haven't ordered lobster before...snow crab also haven't before! such a pity you didnt find the food was nice...

if you wanted good nice seafood, you should go to "end of the world" at teluk bahang...i'm sure you must hv heard of that?

anyway, rgding the botanical garden, i also agree that there are still ppl feeding the monkeys when it's so clearly stated no feeding the monkeys (duh?!) that's why i dont dare to bring rachael there yet cos i'm afraid of the monkeys attacking her...

isn;t it great to meet up another blogger? wish i was there as well!

well, waiting for your part 3 of your pg trip...

HV A GREAT WEEKEND!

Anonymous said...

That was a really expensive meal! Well, good thing is that that restaurant can only cheat you once!

Anonymous said...

RM1k above is surely an expensive meal ehh & it can really caused pain in d heart if it wasn't a satisfactory one!! good that u found out & let us know...sorry bali hai, i won't visit u! btw, d name also damn 'suei' hor??!!

wuah..looks like yr boy is such a notty also...can be tough to handle too hor...that's a boy!!
what a small world...go penang also bumped into blogger!!

Fussy mum said...

Wow! the total bill was freaking expensive but the food looks good leh!! Sure burnt a big hole in the pocket liao...heheh!

Awaiting your next post...have a nice weekend!

cre8tone said...

Wah~~ u go so many places in Penang~~~ In penang but lazy go out due to the hot weather... Didn't go to any attractions in Penang this time.. But we manage to stop by some places in Perak~~ :)

2xMum said...

Haha... dining seafood that place really cost a bomb! We normally don't go such places. Just that day my hubby's friend from Singapore came to Penang for a visit and brought him there as his hotel is along the gurney drive.

Ya, I do get this kind of encounters sometimes. The problem is it will be embarrassed when I couldn't recall that person's name :P

Well, i really look shock that day,huh? Haha, actually my brain was a little rusty at that time you called my name, trying hard to screen through my 'harddisk' and identify the person called my name! :P I'm pretty bad in memorizing ppl's face & names :P

But, when you addressed yourself as slavemom... my brain immediately could recalled your kids named CE & XY... phew, I guess my brain ain't that rusty yet... hehe.

Nevertheless, it's great get to meet you that day. By the way, i think your girl look more like you ya :)

michelle@mybabybay said...

You should go Tambun Fisherman Village, but it is a 15 mins drive to the mainland for seafood.

Yummy...is that lobster.

Oliveoylz said...

Yikes! Really cut throat seafood man...don't play play!

Mummy In Vain said...

i've tried the seafood in Bali Hai there....not bad wor, but maybe it was a bit too expensive...

btw, how do u make those photos in your post huh? saw many doing in this way. so nice....wat software r u using? mind to share?

slavemom said...

Shireen, but doesn't taste good. *pffftt!*

Rachel & Irene, *apply medicated oil for u* hehehe That's an experience of a lifetime.

Debbie, the crab looked good AND tasted good.

Ling, it helps that Ryan was so outstandingly cute!

Mummy Gwen, it's getting harder n harder to handle him as he grows older. sigh...

Wen, double, no... triple ouch!

June, haven't been to End of the World for vy long edi. A lot of plcs got good seafood. Tambun, Tj Tokong, Batu Maung - nice n cheap.

Joyce, 1st and last time. :)

Jac, shld hv warned the guy I'm a blogger, give me terrible food, n u get bad review. :p

Fussy mum, looks can be deceiving hor.

Kylie, we oso usually laze ard at home. But this time vy enthusiastic to bring the kids visit plcs of interest.

Doreen, if u can recall my kids' names, then not rusty at all. ;) Coz it's usually difficult to rmbr initials.

Mich, ya lor... long time din go Tambun for seafood liao. If oni that lobster was really yummy, then we wudn't be so disappointed.

Juana, it was a bloody sight. huhuhu

Jacelyn, for this one, I'm using MS Publisher. I find it less complicated than Photoshop (PS). But PS has more functionality for u to play ard. If u need more info, u can e-mail me. I'm no sifu, but wud be glad to help as best I can. ;)

Babysmooches said...

Wah seh, so expensive lah...
I like to go to the one near a beach (can't remember the name) which serve really yummy seafood and very reasonable price..